ONE TIME THING ✸ Scott Reed

4

The door chimes as Rae walked into the pharmacy. "Hi Mrs Baker." I slightly smile as I wave to her and go up to the counter she's behind.

"Oh! Rae! Hi, sweetie." She smiles at me.

"Who you picking up for?" she asks me, I put my phone in my back pocket.

"I- uh, My doctor put me on these anti-depressants or some shi- sorry.. I just need the medication." i chuckle nervously, She nods.

"Hey, are you okay?" she asks, My eyes meet hers again.

"Yeah.. uh why?"

She sighs. "You just.. you need anti-depressants now.. is everything okay? At home? At school? With friends?" I sigh. Before I can say anything Mr Baker walks in.

"Hi, Olivia."

Mrs Baker sighs. "Andy." She goes and gets my medicine.

"Thanks." I take the bag from over the counter.

"Call me sometime, Rae." She smiles softly at me again. I nod.

"Hey Mr Baker." i smile at him, He smiles.

"Hi, Rae."

I walk out of the pharmacy and into my car.

Zach and I go to sit down for breakfast. My mom has a newspaper in her hand. "have you seen this?" She questions us.

"My god, was there anyone in your class that wasnt involved with Hannah?" she questions again, causing me to chuckle.

"What? What do you mean?" Zach asks, getting defensive all of a sudden,

"Every day, theres another boy in this story." She says, placing the newspaper on the table for Zach to read, my eyebrows furrow together.

"It's not surprising that she had a reputation." she scoffs, I roll my eyes, my jaw clenches,

"You don't know what the fuck you're talking about, mom," I warn

"I will just be glad when this is all over for you, and as far removed from this mess as possible," She says, completely ignoring me. It's always been clear that Zach was her favorite, he's everyone's favorite apparently.

"Yep," Zach says, taking a bite out of his waffle. I roll my eyes.
"I'll be in the car," I say, leaving my plate completely full. I go out front and I grab a cigarette from my pocket and I inhale the smoke as it fills up my lungs, quickly the door opens and I quickly throw it out on the ground and I get in the car.

"you.. smell.. terrible," Zach starts the car, I roll my eyes,

"thank you, Zach, yeah, thank you so fucking much," i growl,

"What's wrong with you?" he wonders,

"What's wrong with me?" i quote him,

"shit," he mumbles under his breath,

"I suggest you shut the fuck up before I make you," i warn, he puts his arms up in surrender.

"I got it. I got it."

"I try not to be a bully. I try not to be a victim. its.. a tough line to walk,"

"So, this bullying that you just mentioned.. do you feel pressure to join in when you see it happening?" Dennis asks my brother,

"Yes, Sir."

"Oh for the love of god." I grumble, Some of the people look over at my mom and I, i roll my eyes in response as they turn their heads back to Zach and this excuse of a lawyer. My mom not so softly hits my arm. as i was about to flip her off, i decided against it.

"And what type of bullying do you see?" he asks,

"well, sometimes its obvious and sometimes its not. Sometimes a kid gets roughed up. a lot of the time though, its.. its just what other people say.. especially athletes," zach staes, well no shit, sherlock.

"So what type of stuff do you say?" dennis questions,

"We brag about things that we do with girls, like.. uh, sexually.. Even when they arent true. and sometimes that can get around." Zach explains, 

"whos saying these things?" Dennis questions, once again.

"Lots of kids," Zach hesitates as he looks back at his lawyer for assurance, he nods.

"its a tough school." he starts, "It is especially tough on girls.. Especially on Hannah," he continues,

"To your knowledge, neither Mrs Bradley nor.. any liberty faculty took any action once this anonymous note was read aloud?"

He shakes his head. "Not to my knowledge," Fucking teachers pet.

"So a note interest in suicide was read aloud in class, and faculty members ignored it?"

"Objection, asked and answered," the other lawyer tries to object,

"Sustained." he orders.

"No further questions, your honor." He goes and sits back down.

"Im leaving."

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